Dale Powers
Born in Rockaway Beach, New York City, Dale started playing piano at the age of 5 years old. By the time he was 11, he stopped taking formal lessons, in favor of teaching himself the Rock and Roll that was always playing on the family stereo. Captivated by the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Etc, Dale spent all his time teaching himself the songs of his new idols….
At the age of 15, Dale desired to play with other musicians, and due
to the limitations of the piano (their were no electric pianos in those days!), switched to guitar to be more mobile. After one month of owning a guitar, He performed at New Yorks famous “CBGB” club and found his place in the explosion called punk rock, blending the roots music he loved with the furor of the punk era. Upon joining the band “Mistaken Identity” however, His musical interests turned more to hardcore punk and the anti-music movement.
In time, Dale came into contact with the a group called the “Roustabouts” who were searching for a replacement guitarist for founding member Lee Tobia. This band, fronted by “Stray Cats” brother and artist in his own right, Gary Setzer, opened vast opportunities for him as a musician, as well as returning him to his roots rock and roll orientated style, which included years of touring as opening act for bands like B52s, Robert Gordon, Marshall Crenshaw, and numerous big bands of the day, as well as a large following of their own in their native New York.
After falling to personal problems of his own, Dale reunited with The Roustabouts after a long pause to come to Europe. It was at this time he experienced the beauty of Europe and eventually desired to stay on this side of the ocean to get his life in order and pursue his solo career further, as well as lending his talents to several other projects.
At a concert by blues entertainer Errol Dixon, Dale was inspired to resume playing piano. He quickly found that the European audience held very fondly the music of his childhood and a new career was re-born. Dale formed his own group, and began touring Europe playing various nightclubs and festivals. It was in Ascona, Switzerland, at the New Orleans jazz festival, Dale was introduced to the likes of Professor Longhair, Champion Jack Dupree, Dr. John, etc, which pointed his style into a new direction. Fusing American roots music with the second line feel, Dale perfected the rolling boogie-woogie style he is known for today, which he continues to enjoy at numerous jazz and blues festivals (Montreux Jazz Off, Honky Tonk, New Orleans Ascona, etc..) and night club appearances.
Aside from Rock and Blues, Dale has always been interested in exploring various musical styles. in the early 90′s, He became interested in the modern technology evolving in the musical world and created output under various guises. The pre-acid jazz craze formation “Incantations” was one of the early major sampling works of the time, a collaboration with Swiss Techno pioneer BFree, featuring BeBop legend Benny Ross on saxophone, CrossroadStanding, a collaboration with Norwegian Punk Drum legend Runnar “Kula” Johannessen was an exploration into the dark side of Norse mythology fused with shamanistic drumming and chants, which enjoyed number one and top ten status on the now defunct MP3.com in the World Fusion section for close to a year.
By the end of the 90′s, Dale had returned from Norway to live in Switzerland and started his own studio, continuing with electronic music technology and resuming the identity of ZouZouMamoux. As his musical style took a Darker Trip-hop approach, He was commissioned to create the soundtrack for the Mammut Sport-wear released film “Timing”, as well as the exhibition and promotional music for Kjus Sport-wear. Excerpts from these works can be heard in various chill-out sounds of today as they have been resampled and recycled by various artists. The original collective works, entitled “Liber 1:11″ are due for release in fall 2006.
It was in 2001 that Dale was reunited with Marco Paganini thru the suggestion of prior producer and guitarist “Vic Vergat”. Having known each other socially 10 years earlier, they both welcomed the idea of a collaboration. This was the birth of the current “Paganini” lineup which resulted in the release of “Esoterrorism”. Upon performing live together in support of the CD, Marco and Dale noticed the fans reaction to the new material and fine tuned the classic Paganini tracks to match the intensity of their current output, much to the fans approval. The result of this was the CD “Resurrection”, which is the first release on their own label “PaZouZouRecords”, distributed by NL Records (a subdivision of MTM Music). They are currently working on new material for the next release as well as preparing to tour Europe in support of the “Resurrection”.
DISCOGRAPHY
1979 – Resisters “My Heart Bleeds/All Hell Breaks loose” 45rpm/TonySt.James Music
1980 – Mistaken Identity “Promised Land” EP, Anti Music, NYC
1988 – Dale Powers “Alone” EP, Noize Prod., Switzerland
1989 – Roustabouts “Alive in Atlantis” Memo music, Germany
1990 – Tea for Two “Slave” Big Z records, Germany
1991 – Henneken “Bessesen” Rough Trade, Germany
1992 – Tea for Two “The Pain Remains The Same” Mega Peng, Switzerland
1993 – Greasy Kid Stuff “Sexy, Druggie, Rock and Rollie” Noize Prod. Switzerland
1994 – Incantations “Raising the Dead” MP3.com/CDnow
1998 – Crossroad Standing “Medicine” MP3.com/CDnow
2003 – Timing (The Movie) DVD Soundtrack, Mammut Sportswear
2003 – Paganini “Esoterrorism” Tyrolis Music
2004 – Kjus Ski-wear Exhibition Soundtrack
2005 – Paganini “Resurrection” PaZouZou Records
2006 – ZouZouMamoux “Liber 1:11″ (coming in fall 2006)
2008 – Paganini “Medicin Man” Paganini/Powers
